Today we’d like to introduce you to Stefanie Miller.
Stefanie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My story is a very typical “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” story. I went to Columbia College here in Chicago for Music Business. After school I was working at a bar while trying to find something permanent in my field. I had this regular who, for over a year, would come in once a week with his wife. He is a drummer and we would talk about music/bands/life and we just formed a great relationship. One day he told me he was opening a music studio and asked if I had any interest in working for him. I think he interviewed me a few days later and that was it. I went from bartending to having the best job in the world. I am forever grateful he took a chance on me because I have had the opportunity to watch this business grow and work with some very talented and creative people.
Has it been a smooth road?
As far moving forward in this company, I have been fortunate enough to work for people who see the potential in me. I think having an amazing team has also been incredibly helpful. Every person who works within this company, including the owners, is very creative. We have a creative freedom that you don’t get at most jobs. There has been a very natural and organic growth to this organization for that very reason. We all have ideas and the freedom to see where they take us. When we first started out with 5 people we were 50,000 SF and 20 rehearsal spaces. Now we have a creative-arts eco-system built for a community by a group of people who are a part of that community.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We are Chicago’s only creative-arts ecosystem. You can play music, record music, film a video or movie, learn about any creative arts business, attend educational events, network and work here. At roughly 180,000 SF, we have 135 monthly rental suites. These include band rehearsal rooms as well as production offices. We also have 8 hourly rehearsal spaces with complete back line for bands that can’t practice at home but need to get loud for a few hours and don’t want to lug around their gear. We have a large pro grade tour space, Icon Pro Studios, which has housed artists like Smashing Pumpkins, The Lumineers, Deftones and even One Direction. We also have an entertainment industry incubator, 2112, which is focused on the development of business and entrepreneurs in the creative arts industries. 2112 provides mentorship, educational programming and work space. We are the only space in Chicago (in the world for that matter) that provides all of these things under one roof.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think Chicago is a great place for a business like ours. There is a large community of creatives in this city who are looking to grow. Whether that be their band, their business or their knowledge. There are multiple places in the city to do each of those things for sure. However, to come to one place and have access to it all is something amazing. I think any city would benefit from having a place like ours. We are educating people and giving them the space/resources to obtain that growth which only results in job creation, increase in the creative arts community and continued development of the city. We are currently in the process of expanding and hoping to open in Nashville at the end of this year.
Pricing:
- Hourly rehearsal rooms start at $5 per person/per hour.
- Monthly band rehearsal rooms/private office space/production suites start at $550 per month.
- Memberships to 2112 start at $70 per month.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4255 N Knox Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641 - Website: www.fortknoxstudios.com
- Phone: 7732956161
- Email: info@fortknoxstudios.com
- Instagram: fortknoxstudios_chicago
- Facebook: FKSChicago
- Twitter: FKS_Chicago
- Yelp: fort-knox-studios-chicago
Image Credit:
Sidne Hirsch Photography, Lauren Wakefield Photography, Luka Lumovic
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
Lauren Riley
August 29, 2018 at 2:30 pm
So unbelievably proud of Stef. She is my cousin but has always been a sister to me since growing up in diapers in Indiana. She always had a nack for reading and music, more of a love I guess is the better word. She has this creative side that I’ve never seen in anyone else and her imagination and dreams run wild. She is driven, focused, and so very, very smart. I never doubted her potential and success that has come to her! Congrats Stef.. you make me so proud. PS- sharing this with the fam!